"Vice President Vance said Wednesday the Israel-Hamas ceasefire is holding, but acknowledged the challenges involved in trying to end the war entirely. "We have a very tough task ahead of us, which is to disarm Hamas but rebuild Gaza," Vance said after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Vance is part of a high-profile U.S. team that's in Israel this week with the mission of keeping the truce on track and trying to extend it to a more challenging second phase."
"Netanyahu is universally known in Israel as "Bibi." The Israeli media is calling this American contingent the "Bibisitters." In addition to Vance, it includes Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also expected this week. For his part, Netanyahu described the meeting with Vance as an "opportunity to make decisions jointly in a very tight-knit and trusted partnership.""
"The Gaza ceasefire has largely held aside from a flare-up in fighting last Sunday that left two Israeli soldiers and more than 40 Palestinians dead. However, the so-called phase two of the truce deals with more difficult problems. Gaza doesn't have a government and it's not clear when it will get one. The Hamas leadership was decimated in the war, and the ceasefire agreement says the group will not take part in a future government."
Vice President Vance said the Israel-Hamas ceasefire is holding but warned of the challenges in ending the war fully. He said the task ahead includes disarming Hamas and rebuilding Gaza. A high-profile U.S. delegation in Israel includes Vance, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Adm. Brad Cooper, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio expected. Prime Minister Netanyahu called the meeting an opportunity to make joint decisions in a close partnership. U.S. officials are not expected to meet Hamas because it is designated a terrorist organization, though Witkoff and Kushner met Hamas leaders in Egypt to finalize the truce. The ceasefire largely held despite a recent deadly flare-up. Phase two confronts harder issues: Gaza currently lacks a government, Hamas leadership has been decimated and is to be excluded from future government, and an interim 15-member technocratic administration is proposed with no timetable.
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